John Nolan/Times photo
Susan and Reiner Schwake of Artstream, who will soon be relocating the studio from Rochester to Dover, display their most recently published book, Art Lab for Little Kids.

ROCHESTER — Artstream Gallery, which has just celebrated its 10th anniversary on North Main Street, will be relocating to 10 Second St. in Dover in July.

According to Susan Schwake, who owns the studio and media design company, along with her husband Reiner, they will complete the move by the end of June, open at the new location on July 1, and have an official opening along with a new exhibit on July 6.

The building was previously used by the Unity Church, and is the old Dover Court House. It has almost 2,000 square feet of floor space, including ample areas for the gallery, teaching and a pottery kiln.

“We have been looking for the last couple of years at our client and student base, and a high proportion comes from south of Rochester — from Barrington, Dover, Rollinsford, Portsmouth, Eliot, Maine ... we are excited (with the move) because our customers and students are excited. We will have our own parking lot and excellent light,” said Susan Schwake. “This place just presented itself three weeks ago, and we are delighted to be part of another downtown.”

Artstream has been a member of Dover Chamber of Commerce for several years.

It was over 10 years ago when artstream moved to its present Rochester location.

“It was love at first sight. We walked into 56 North Main St. in December 2002 and knew this is where the future home of artstream would be,” reads the artstream website, currently. The building was, and still is, owned by Mary Jo Monusky, who was an artstream partner until August of 2012.

They won praise, back when they first opened the gallery, for the work they put into getting it ready.

In a letter to the Rochester Times, in May of 2003, Wes Flierl wrote, “As an architect I can say that this type of renovation and use, such as the gallery, of an older building is something we always hope can take place. What a beautiful job they have done .... this is a very welcome addition to downtown Rochester.”

Contacted last week, Mike Provost, executive director of Rochester Main Street said of artstream, “As businesses grow and their clients change, they make decisions. We are sorry to see them go — they have been a great addition to downtown. It is always sad when a business leaves, but it will be an opportunity for something new to come in. Market demand will determine what goes in that space.”

Rochester Chamber of Commerce President Laura Ring said, “We are sorry to see them leave Rochester. They have been a positive and thriving business and we wish them all the best.”

Over the past decade, recalled Reiner Schwake, artstream has held 80 monthly exhibitions of various artists, arts and crafts fairs, ladies’ nights and a Poets in the Gallery event.

Susan Schwake said that the Kalavala event was particularly memorable, as it featured epic Finnish poems and no fewer than 20 harpists. She added that artstream had also organized two art auctions in support of the Opera House.

“We live in Rochester, and we want good things for the city,” she said.

The opening gallery exhibit in Dover on Saturday, July 6 is “Ticket to Ride” — mixed media works by Linda Plaisted. It will run, on that day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monusky could not be reached by deadline for comment about future plans for the 56 North Main St. building.